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Tree Chart
students identify questions about trees and plants to include their importance, parts, and systems. They list the things they know, want to know, and how they are going to study it.
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Edible Soil
Students examine the components of the soil in their community. Following directions, they create their own edible soil to be eaten at the end of the activity. They discuss what makes soils around the world different from those found...
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TE Activity: How Fast Can a Carrot Rot?
Learners experiment to define which environmental factors favor decomposition by soil microbes. They decompose carrots in dirt, weigh the carrots periodically to determine how long it takes. They look at how engineers use this type of...
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Sustainable Agriculture
Students perform an experiment to find out if plants grow best when grown in soil with no fertilizer, with chemical fertilizers, or with compost that they have made themselves. Students discover how agriculture practices can benefit the...
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The Nitrogen Cycle
Students design and create a compost pile in order to study the Nitrogen Cycle. They then use the scientific method to determine if plants grow better when they add organic matter from their compost pile to the plant's soil.
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Case Study - An Ecotour
Students plan an ecotour of the Australian rainforest. They prepare fact sheets about animals, create a mural, prepare a advertising brochure and a guided tour of the rainforest.
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Rock, Soil, or Water?
Students participate in an activity in which they identify properties of water, soil and rocks. They work together to identify different types of rocks. They ask questions to complete the lesson plan.
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Soil Formation
Seventh graders investigate how soil is formed. They analyze types of soil samples, examine soil using a magnifying glass or microscope, complete a chart, conduct a soil and plant experiment, and construct a soil profile.
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Soil Samples
Students complete experiments in which they test the amount of humus in soil samples. They record their data and discuss the results. They write a story about soils to end the lesson.
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Soil Structure
Sixth graders examine how different soils are made up of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand. They compare soil samples, conduct Internet research, and create a model to demonstrate the relative sizes of grains of clay, sand, and...
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Necessary Nitrogen
High schoolers view a video that presents the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. They compare types of soils and consider how different fertilizers affect soil composition.
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Create a Soil Aggregate
Students simulate the conditions which occur in a soil aggregate. They explain how IPM affects the environment. They identify the cast of characteristics to develop their aggregate.
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How Safe Is Your Backyard?
Seventh graders investigate the safety of soil and water locally and communicate via the Internet with students in different locales sharing information. They research the Internet using its multimedia capabilities and collate the data...
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Garden in an Egg Carton
Students investigate the growth of seedlings planted in egg cartons in the classroom. Measurements are taken as the plants grow and charts created to organize the data.
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Household Chemicals & the Environment
High schoolers conduct a laboratory experiment designed to investigate the effects of chemicals, soil quality and pollution on seed growth and plant yield. They consider how best to maximize agriculture in the long term.
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A Rocky Situation
Second graders conduct experiments with rocks to observe weathering. They read books, examine websites and watch a video to examine how rocks break down into soil.
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Decomposition, Soil, and Life Cycle Research
Students conduct background research on the decomposition process, soil composition, and the life cycle using the resources provided for Internet searches. They work in collaborative groups to research topics as a particular plant, soil...
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Investigation 7 - Plants In Soil
Fourth graders explain how the components of soil effect plant growth. They brainstorm different kinds of materials that plants could use for structural support. They design an experiment to show that plants can grow without soil.
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Soil Composition: Then and Now
Students identify the location of their school from a 1926 digitized Soil Sample map. Using remaining landforms, they determine the type of soil identified during that time, and compare it to the soil currently found near the school.
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Soil and Agriculture:Lesson 3 - Soil Erosion
Students reseach the different types of soil erosion and ways to control it in this series of activities.
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Cracks on the Walls
Young scholars observe the cracks in school walls and pavements. For this geometry lesson, students explore the factors to be considered before building a structure. They complete a graphing and calculation worksheet after the lesson.
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Science and the Scientific Process
Young scholars investigate the characteristics of different soil samples. In this physical science lesson, students play the role of forensics solving a crime by matching soil from the suspect's shoes. They formulate a conclusion after...
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Soil Comparison and Analysis
Students perform tests on different soil samples. In this earth science activity, students classify the soil into groups according to test results. They write a lab report following a certain criteria.
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Science with Mud!
Eighth graders give some examples of chemical reactions they see everyday. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders investigate how much water soil can hold. They collect data and compare results with others.